Florida Indie Travel Guide

Does it seem like a disproportionate number of crazy news stories come from the state of Florida? That is because they do. Florida is the home of the crazy news story. The fact that each year millions of new people are moving to a state that essentially existed as a swamp for centuries can help to explain the degree of insanity. People who actively choose to live in a swamp are bound to end up doing strange things.

Even with the odd stories, Florida remains a popular travel destination. The state is seemingly able to attract more and more people each year. People go to Florida for Spring Break, Spring Training, Disney World and for a warm place to live before they die.

If you are looking for a secret little vacation spot in Florida that no one knows about than you might be out of luck. The state is well known and well visited, and just about every piece of land that can be developed has been. If you are looking for a place to go where you can usually find and attractive deal, Florida is a good bet. All of the theme parks and the resorts love nothing more than to cut you a deal to visit.

When is the best time to go to Florida? Unless you love heat and humidity like you have never felt it before, avoid the state in the summer months. That means May-September. The best times to go are actually after the major holidays when families are back in school and the state is quiet. The middle weeks of January are great, as is the week after Thanksgiving.

Where to go? Florida is essentially three states in one. The northern part of the state is an extension of the South. It includes the "Redneck Riviera", which features white beaches and lots of strip malls. The middle is dominated by theme parks. Disney World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens are just a few. The southern part of the state is where a lot of northerners retire, as well as being the home to a large Spanish-speaking population. Each region has its plusses and minuses so do your homework before you choose.

Florida is a strange place in every sense of the word. Some people dig it. Some people hate it. But no one ever calls it boring.